2023 PARK CLEAN UP DATES

2023 PARK CLEAN UP DATES

by | Feb 13, 2023 | Southparknews

Litter League and Pond Patrol Schedule Set for 2023

The Friends of South Park Litter League will be convening three times this year to remove litter and other debris from various sections of South Park.  The first of the scheduled cleanups will be held on Saturday, April 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. in celebration of Earth Day.

Persons interested in joining and helping the Litter League are being asked to meet that day at 8:45 a.m. at the Sunset Hills shelter, located at the intersection of 1000 Acre Drive and Texas Road.  The Allegheny County South Park Rangers will be providing all necessary equipment, including arm extenders, gloves, vests, buckets and bags, to pickup and remove debris.  Those attending will be asked to assist the Rangers in cleaning the immediate area around the shelter as well as along the China Wall (Scenic Overlook).

Litter League members will also be dispersed from that location to pick up litter around the South Park Skating Rink parking lot and at the entrance to the park at Rt. 88 and Corrigan Drive.

“Helping keep the park clean and litter free is a constant battle, but it is one worth doing if you care about the park and want to help make it a welcoming place for persons of all ages,” said Jason Fincke, Litter League coordinator and vice chair of the Friends of South Park.

“Last year, approximately 25 area residents helped clean up four sections of the park, removing well over 50 bags of trash and other debris that had accumulated over the years.  Litter League members described their participation in the cleanups as a rewarding and enjoyable activity.”

In addition to April 22, the Friends of South Park Litter League will also be meeting on July 15 and October 28 to clean up other areas of the park including the hillside along Corrigan Drive and the banks of Catfish Run, which parallels Corrigan Drive throughout the park.

The Friends of South Park Pond Patrol will also be doing its annual grass and weed removal at the Maple Springs pond later this year.  The Pond Patrol will also be asked to help clean up Catfish Run on July 15.

Individuals and families are welcome to join the Litter League.  Persons can participate as often as they choose.

Penn State Master Gardeners are ready to start their 2023 season!

by | Feb 8, 2023 | Southparknews

Joan Kugler
Penn State Master Gardener

A new growing season is just around the corner, and South Park Learning Garden is ready with a schedule in place for preparing, planting, maintaining, and educating. We will be ready to welcome the public with a place to enjoy and learn. The garden is located at the South Park Theatre site. As Theatre performers start their rehearsals for the 2023 season, we will be busy expanding our presence all around the site. Here is a list of action highlights:

*April 29th (10 AM – 2 PM in the Home-Ec building) There will be a sale of native plants, greenhouse-grown by Penn State Master Gardeners. An Ask a Master Gardener table will be included, plus an informal tour of our garden at the Theatre site.

July 19th (5:30 at the Theatre site) A Walk-n-Talk Presentation of Native Plants will be conducted by one of our volunteers. Come see what’s growing!

*August 19th (time TBA at the Theatre site) Garden in the Parks, our big annual event, returns featuring lots of informational tables, speakers, children’s activities, garden walk-n-talks and more!

 

September 6th (5:30 at the Theatre site) How Did This Garden Happen? A presentation on the history of South Park and its impact on designing South Park Learning Garden will be given by Joan Kugler.

Volunteers will be on-site Wednesdays (10-12 & 4:30-6:30) from mid-April through mid-October. We welcome your visit!

*For further information, visit the Allegheny County Master Gardeners website:

extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/allegheny